Air India pilot's dope test pending as authorities review Phuket-Delhi incident
A confirmatory drug test for the captain of Air India's Phuket-Delhi flight is still awaiting results, while regulators examine the incident that injured passengers.
Air India's flight from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 suffered a sudden 300-foot descent during cruise, resulting in 17 people being taken to hospital before the aircraft touched down safely. The captain's initial drug screening returned a non-negative result, so a confirmatory test was ordered; the laboratory report is still pending. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, together with the aviation ministry, have summoned Air India officials, including outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson, to review safety protocols.
The DGCA has placed both flight crew members on standby pending the probe. Authorities indicated that any future positive confirmatory result would trigger de-addiction referral and possible licence actions, as outlined in existing regulations. The incident has been classified as serious, and further steps will depend on the investigation's findings.
Why it matters
The case highlights aviation safety oversight and the handling of potential substance use by crew members.
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